Devin Patrick Kelley, 26, killed two people outside the First Baptist Church in Sutherland Springs last November, before walking inside and killing 24 others, wounding 20 more. He is seen in an undated police mug shot
The gunman responsible for the deadliest mass shooting in Texas history died from a self-inflicted gunshot wound and had cannabis and prescription medication in his system, according to an autopsy report released on Thursday.
Devin Patrick Kelley, 26, shot and killed two people outside the First Baptist Church in Sutherland Springs on November 5, before walking inside and killing 24 others, wounding 20 more.
While leaving the church Kelley was confronted by two local men who had heard the gunfire. They pursued Kelley in a 95mph car chase until he ran himself off the road and took his own life.
The autopsy released by the Travis County Medical Examiner’s Office said Kelley was shot in the back and thigh but his cause of death was suicide from a single gunshot wound above his right ear.
The autopsy, first reported on by San Antonio TV station KENS, also says toxicology tests detected marijuana, a tranquilizer, and prescription drugs usually used to treat anxiety in his system.
Investigators have said the attack appeared to stem from a domestic dispute Kelley was having with his mother-in-law, a member of the church who was not present that day.
Kelley had been discharged from the Air Force for assaulting his wife and child, and served 12 months’ confinement following a 2012 court-martial.
While leaving the church (pictured on November 5) Kelley was confronted by two local men who had heard the gunfire. They pursued Kelley in a 95mph car chase until he ran himself off the road and took his own life
He then volunteered as a teacher for Bible studies at Kingsville First Baptist Church, according to his LinkedIn which shows him posing which a young child.
Kelley was reportedly employed by Schlitterbahn Waterpark and Resort in New Braunfels and licensed by the Texas Department of Public Safety as a security guard at the time of the shooting.
Former classmates described him as ‘creepy’, ‘crazy’ and an ‘outcast’ who had recently started preaching about atheism and picking fights on social media.
Nina Rose Nava, who went to school with the gunman, wrote on Facebook: ‘In complete shock! I legit just deleted him off my fb because I couldn’t stand his post.
Former classmates described Kelley (undated photo) as ‘creepy’, ‘crazy’ and an ‘outcast’ who had recently started preaching about atheism and picking fights on social media
‘He was always talking about how people who believe in God we’re stupid and trying to preach his atheism’
Christopher Leo Longoria replied: ‘I removed him off FB for those same reasons! He was being super negative all the time.’
Michael Goff added: ‘He was weird but never that damn weird, always posting his atheist sh** like Nina wrote, but damn he always posted pics of him and his baby – crazy.’
Nava added to DailyMail.com: ‘I went to school with him. We had a few conversations here and there. It’s not something I expected from him.
‘He was an outcast but not a loner. He was popular among other outcast. I haven’t spoke to him since high school.’
Despite his apparent appetite for confrontation, local law enforcement said he had a relatively clean criminal record, with just a traffic offenses in recent years.
One family that lost several relatives during the mass shooting has sued the federal government, saying that even though Kelley was criminally convicted the military failed to enter the information into a database used to conduct background checks of gun buyers.
The error, according to the lawsuit, allowed Kelley to buy the assault-style rifle he used in the attack.
Investigators have said the attack appeared to stem from a domestic dispute Kelley was having with his mother-in-law, a member of the church (pictured on November 7 two days after the shooting). She was not present on the day